The Northern Arizona Book Festival is a gathering of poets, writers, authors, historians, painters in Flagstaff, Arizona, to share their love for the written word. It is a three-day weekend full of poetry readings, workshops, panel discussions and literary events that celebrate the literary community of Arizona and the USA. Past guests have included Diana Gabaldon, T. Greenwood and Bruce Aiken. The Northern Arizona Book Festival takes place in April every year.

2. Cochise Cowboy Poetry & Music Gathering http://www.cowboypoets.com/joomla/index.php

Western poets and musicians gather at the Buena Performing Arts Center in Sierra Vista every February to celebrate Arizona’s history through words. The Cowboy Poetry Gathering also encourages students from Grade 3 to 12 in Arizona to celebrate Arizona’s history through a poetry contest. The winners get published and get to participate in readings during the gatherings.

3. Arizona Festival Of Books http://tucsonfestivalofbooks.org/

The Festival Of Books is one of the largest, if not the largest, gathering of literary lovers in Arizona. Thousands of people fly to Tucson in March every year to hear authors, poets and writers share their love for written works. Poetry readings, exhibits, workshops and panel discussions keep people busy during these three days. Held at the University of Arizona, it’s a fun-filled event for the entire family.

Next stop: Connecticut

California

1. Bay Area Storytelling Festival

Featuring several of the best storytellers in the country and around the world, be prepared to hear a variety of stories told at the Bay Area Storytelling Festival. Held at the Kennedy Grove Recreational Area in El Sobrante, California, various storytellers stand  up to share new and old stories with the audience, from folk tales to ghost stories to fairy tales. This 2-day event welcomes people of all ages, from school kids to kids-at-heart.

2. Los Angeles Times Festival Of Books

The Los Angeles Times Festival Of Books is the event to go to when you want the chance to talk to your favorite authors. Held on UCLA grounds, outdoor events are free while panel events featuring different authors are ticketed events. This two-day event also features around 300 exhibits of booksellers, publishers, literacy and cultural organizations who are there to promote and sell books in their line-ups.

3. Mariposa Storytelling Festival

An annual event that features prominent storytellers from all over the country, prepare to be entertained with the stories they bring. They not only bring their stories but will share them with their audiences through movement, dance, song and expressions. Held at the Yosemite National Park, you definitely will experience another literary world.

Next stop: Arizona

The Bay Area Anarchist Book Fair started when Bound Together, an anarchist collective bookstore, wanted to celebrate their 20th anniversary. Around 40 anarchist authors and publishers attended as vendors, displaying their works. Fourteen years later, the Anarchist Book Fair is still going strong with this year’s affair happening on May 14 and 15 at the SF Country Fair Building at Golden Gate Park.

2. Bay Area Playwrights Festival

The Bay Area Playwrights Festival was created to gather and get to know playwrights. The organizers select a play from submissions to their group and stage a public show of the same play. This year’s public shows will take place at the Magic Theatre in San Francisco from July 17 to 26.

3. San Francisco International Poetry Festival

Open to the public, the San Francisco International Poetry Festival showcases 15 poets from San Francisco and around the world and from up-and-coming poets to renowned masters. The festival features poetry readings in different bars and cafes in North Beach, Sunset and Bernal Heights.

4. The San Francisco Shakespeare Festival

Sharing the experience of Shakespeare’s plays is the goal of the San Francisco Shakespeare Festival. Running from July 18 to September 20, the Festival will run in Pleasanton and Cupertino and end in San Francisco. Held at the Presidio in San Francisco, this year’s festival will host the production of Comedy Of Errors.

5. Litquake

Litquake is San Francisco’s premiere literary festival. It is held in various venues all over the city and features literary readings, performances and panel discussions. Every year, there are more than 300 authors joining literary fans in celebrating the written word. Litquake ends with Litcrawl, a three-hour literary crawl through the book shops and galleries of SF’s Mission District, featuring readings and panel discussions. This year’s festivities will take place all over San Francisco from October 9 to 17.

Is that enough reason for you to visit San Francisco to celebrate the written word? I hope it is!